When the holidays arrive, hockey fans in Auburn will find their game a lot closer to home.
The Seattle Thunderbirds will drop their first puck in the new Kent Events Center no later than Jan. 3 – and possibly as early as Dec. 27 – as the team released its Western Hockey League schedule last week.
The T-birds open their season with back-to-back games in British Columbia against the Prince George Cougars on Sept. 19-20.
They’ll face off against the defending Memorial Cup champion Spokane Chiefs in their final KeyArena home opener on Saturday, Oct. 4, at 7:05 p.m.
Their 6,025-seat Kent home is officially scheduled for completion on Jan. 2. If that date holds, the Thunderbirds will take to the ice the next night against the Everett Silvertips.
But if it is finished earlier, Seattle could move in as soon as Saturday, Dec. 27 against longtime rival Portland. Other home games scheduled around that time are Dec. 28 against Spokane and Dec. 30 against the Chilliwack Bruins.
More ticket information is available by calling (206) 448-7825, on online at www.seattlethunderbirds.com.
THUNDERBIRDS SCHEDULE
Friday, Sept. 19 @ Prince George
Saturday, Sept. 20 @ Prince George
Friday, Sept. 26 @ Tri-City
Saturday, Sept. 27 @ Everett
Friday, Oct. 3 @ Vancouver
Saturday, Oct. 4 vs. Spokane
Friday, Oct. 10 @ Everett
Saturday, Oct. 11 @ Portland
Sunday, Oct. 12 @ Chilliwack
Friday, Oct. 17 @ Tri-City
Saturday, Oct. 18 vs. Kelowna
Wednesday, Oct. 22 @ Kamloops
Friday, Oct. 24 @ Spokane
Saturday, Oct. 25 vs. Everett
Wednesday, Oct. 29 @ Kelowna
Saturday, Nov. 1 @ Tri-City
Tuesday, Nov. 4 vs. Edmonton
Friday, Nov. 7 vs. Red Deer
Saturday, Nov. 8 @ Chilliwack
Tuesday, Nov. 11 @ Prince Albert
Wednesday, Nov. 12 @ Saskatoon
Friday, Nov. 14 @ Regina
Saturday, Nov. 15 @ Brandon
Tuesday, Nov. 18 @ Moose Jaw
Wednesday, Nov. 19 @ Swift Current
Saturday, Nov. 22 vs. Portland
Friday, Nov. 28 vs. Kootenay
Saturday, Nov. 29 @ Portland
Friday, Dec. 5 @ Tri-City
Saturday, Dec. 6 @ Portland
Sunday, Dec. 7 vs. Calgary
Wed., Dec. 10 @ Vancouver
Friday, Dec. 12 @ Spokane
Saturday, Dec. 13 @ Spokane
Saturday, Dec. 27 vs. Portland
Sunday, Dec. 28 vs. Spokane
Tuesday, Dec. 30 vs. Chilliwack
Wed., Dec. 31 @ Portland
Saturday, Jan. 3 vs. Everett
Sunday, Jan. 4 vs. Kamloops
Wednesday, Jan. 7 @ Kelowna
Friday, Jan. 9 vs. Tri-City
Sunday, Jan. 11 vs. Prince George
Friday, Jan. 16 @ Everett
Saturday, Jan. 17 vs. Everett
Sunday, Jan. 18 vs. Tri-City
Wed., Jan. 21 vs. Kamloops
Friday, Jan. 23 vs. Spokane
Saturday, Jan. 24 vs. Portland
Tuesday, Jan. 27 vs. Medicine Hat
Wed., Jan. 28 @ Kamloops
Friday, Jan. 30 @ Everett
Saturday, Jan. 31 vs. Kelowna
Friday, Feb. 6 vs. Lethbridge
Saturday, Feb. 7 @ Tri-City
Sunday, Feb. 8 vs. Vancouver
Friday, Feb. 13 @ Everett
Saturday, Feb. 14 vs. Portland
Sunday, Feb. 15 vs. Chilliwack
Wed., Feb. 18 @ Spokane
Friday, Feb. 20 vs. Spokane
Saturday, Feb. 21 @ Portland
Sunday, Feb. 22 vs. Vancouver
Saturday, Feb. 28 vs. Portland
Sunday, March 1 vs. Everett
Tuesday, March 3 vs. Spokane
Friday, March 6 vs. Tri-City
Saturday, March 7 vs. Tri-City
Wed., March 11 vs. Prince George
Friday, March 13 vs. Portland
Saturday, March 14 @ Portland
Sunday, March 15 vs. Everett
Home games 7:05 p.m.; Sundays 5:05 p.m.
